ALL the world’s a stage for Bolton students this week as they celebrate the work of William Shakespeare.

The Octagon Theatre opened its doors to local schools as part of the national Shakespeare Schools Festival (SSF).

Following months of rehearsals, pupils took to the big stage to perform some of the Bard’s most famous works.

Among them were the pupils of St James’ C of E High School with Romeo and Juliet.

Playing the star-crossed-lovers were 14-year-olds Kenyon Garrish, from Morris Green, and Erin Crompton, from Westhoughton. Erin said: “We’ve set it in Salford to bring it up to date with modern clothes.

“It’s a bit scary being the main characters but we’ve had fun.”

Kenyon added: “I’ve never been involved in anything as big as this before. I’ve really enjoyed it.

“We didn’t really know each other but we’ve really bonded together as a group.

“It is a bit nerve-wracking going on to the stage but I think we can do pretty well!”

St James performed their abridge version of the play last night along with three other schools, following a day of dress and technical rehearsals in the the theatre, and three more schools are taking part today.

SSF is a charity and the UK’s largest youth drama festival and a charity.

This year more than 1,100 schools and 30,000 young people have been taking part at 131 stages nationwide.

SSF Jodie Armiger said: “The Octagon is the only theatre where we have students performing ‘in the round’’ so it is a great opportunity for them to try something different.”

“We want the experience to be fun, fair and professional. We want them coming off stage feeling a confidence they can apply to whatever they choose to do in the future.”